World War II backdrop

World War II movies

Global war stories: resistance, intelligence missions, major campaigns, and the moral extremes of total war.

The Six Triple Eight

1. The Six Triple Eight

Drama War History Historical Drama World War II
6.7
20242h 10min

Overview

During World War II, the US Army's only all-Black, all-women battalion takes on an impossible mission: sorting through a three-year backlog of 17 million pieces of mail that hadn't been delivered to American soldiers and finish within six months.

Themes

Moral duty and perseverance, Women in military service, Racial discrimination in military, Logistics vs supply priorities, Collective resilience under strain

Available on

Netflix
Netflix Standard with Ads
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Blitz

2. Blitz

War Drama History World War II Historical Drama
6.2
20242h

Overview

In World War II London, nine-year-old George is evacuated to the countryside by his mother, Rita, to escape the bombings. Defiant and determined to return to his family, George embarks on an epic, perilous journey back home as Rita searches for him.

Themes

Race and belonging, Family endurance under siege, Multiethnic shelter solidarity, Labor and protest, Prejudice and resilience, Evacuation and return

Available on

Apple TV
Apple TV Amazon Channel
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Number 24

3. Number 24

War History Drama World War II Historical Event
7.5
20241h 52min

Overview

On the brink of the Second World War, a young Norwegian man's drive to resist the Nazis sets a new course for his future – and the future of his country.

Themes

Resistance under pressure, National duty and identity, Collective memory and legacy, Wartime sacrifice and impact, Quiet courage in crisis, Civilian contribution to war

Available on

Netflix
Netflix Standard with Ads
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Lee

4. Lee

History Drama War Biographical History World War II
6.9
20241h 57min

Overview

The true story of photographer Elizabeth "Lee" Miller, a fashion model who became an acclaimed war correspondent for Vogue magazine during World War II.

Themes

Censorship of war imagery, Gendered wartime labor, Trauma and memory transmission, Professional ethics in conflict photography, Bearing witness under danger, Archival recovery and legacy

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Hulu
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

5. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

Action Comedy War Military Action World War II
6.8
20242h

Overview

During World War II, the British Army assigns a group of competent soldiers to carry out a mission against the Nazi forces behind enemy lines... A true story about a secret British WWII organization — the Special Operations Executive. Founded by Winston Churchill, their irregular warfare against the Germans helped to change the course of the war, and gave birth to modern black operations.

Themes

Spy craft under pressure, Tensions of world war ii, Covert operation dynamics, Loyalty under risk amid special operations, Difficult choices in dangerous mission, Risk and deception in black ops

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

White Bird

6. White Bird

Drama War Historical Drama World War II
7.3
20232h 1min

Overview

After being expelled from Beecher Prep for his treatment of a classmate with a facial deformity, Julian has struggled to fit in at his new school. To transform his life, Julian's grandmother finally reveals her own story of courage of her youth in Nazi-occupied France, where a classmate shelters her from mortal danger.

Themes

Coming of age under threat, Occupation era resilience, Family memory and legacy, Interfaith sheltering, Propaganda and schooling, Loss and remembrance

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Blood & Gold

7. Blood & Gold

Action Drama War Military Action World War II
6.5
20231h 40min

Overview

At the end of World War II, a German soldier is looking for his daughter while an SS troop is looking for a Jewish treasure.

Themes

Treasure as motive, Family bonds under danger, Moral ambiguity in combat, War-torn survival, Exploitation under occupation, Betrayal by insiders

Available on

Netflix
Netflix Standard with Ads
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Sisu

8. Sisu

Action War One-Person Army World War II
6.9
20221h 31min

Overview

When an ex-soldier who discovers gold in the Lapland wilderness tries to take the loot into the city, German soldiers led by a brutal SS officer battle him.

Themes

Survival under occupation, Vengeful lone fighter, Greed vs endurance, Tactical ingenuity under duress, War crimes avoidance, Female agency amid chaos

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Operation Mincemeat

9. Operation Mincemeat

War History Drama World War II Historical Event
6.6
20222h 8min

Overview

In 1943, two British intelligence officers concoct Operation Mincemeat, wherein their plan to drop a corpse with false papers off the coast of Spain would fool Nazi spies into believing the Allied forces were planning to attack by way of Greece rather than Sicily.

Themes

Deception rooted in true story, Spy deception in world war ii, Remake driven misdirection, Secrecy and risk management, Spy craft and loyalty testing, Planning under uncertainty

Available on

Netflix
Netflix Standard with Ads
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Shadow in My Eye

10. The Shadow in My Eye

War Drama History World War II Historical Drama
7.3
20211h 47min

Overview

On March 21st, 1945, the British Royal Air Force set out on a mission to bomb Gestapo's headquarters in Copenhagen. The raid had fatal consequences as some of the bombers accidentally targeted a school and more than 120 people were killed, 86 of whom were children.

Themes

Resistance under occupation, Duty vs humanity, Civilian casualties, War-time trauma, Moral ambiguity of orders, Deception in war

Available on

Netflix
Netflix Standard with Ads
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.